Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer puts on a variety show featuring most of its stars and contract players.

PRODUCTION QUOTES

“Marion Davies and Joan Crawford, M-G-M stars, are rehearsing a typical sister act for insertion in a specialty number in the revue feature in production.”
- “Hollywood,” Motion Picture News, April 27, 1929

REVIEW

“The biggest fall-down among the screen stars is contributed by Norma Shearer and Jack Gilbert in the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. They are terrible when they tackle Shakespeare and they are nearly as bad when they try a modem flip version of the love tragedy.”
- Frederick James Smith, Liberty Magazine, Sep­tember 28, 1929

LETTER FROM REGIONAL THEATER OWNER

“The highest-priced talker we’ve played and nearly the biggest flop. Wonderful production but a complete box-office bust. Don’t get me wrong. To me it’s real entertainment, but out here they kick if they don’t get a story.”
- Henry Reeve, Mission Theatre, Menard, Texas, Exhibitors Herald World, January 18, 1930

FIGURES

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 cost $426,000 and grossed $2,421,000.
(These figures have not been adjusted for inflation nor do they include profits from reissues, television syndication, and home entertainment formats.)